On 10th December, International Human Rights Day, Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi from India will be presented with the 2010 Human Rights Award of the city of Weimar.

"Being the Founder of 'People's Vigliance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR)', Dr. Raghuvanshi strives for observation and assertion of fundamental rights of disadvantaged fractions of the population, such as women, children, Dalits and indigenous minorities. With his committee he has created structures, substantiating enforcement of fundamental rights." as stated in the municipal council's explanatory statement, met on 23rd June 2010, determining Dr. Raghuvanshi to be awarded. The awardee has been suggested by "Friedrich-Nauman-Stiftung für die Freiheit" (Friedrich-Nauman-Foundation for Liberty).

For the past 15 years, Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi has advocated the Dalit's (members of the lowest cast) rights and concerns in the Indian Federal State Uttar Pradesh. Coherently to this engagement, he founded the 'People's Vigliance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR)' in 1996. This Organisation supports aggrieved populace, such as children, women or minorities to claim their fundamental rights.

For that purpose he keeps records on any kind of violation of human rights, such as starvation, police torture or child labour and in co-operation with local human rights groups attends their victims. Cases, dealt with by PVCHR, have, due to Lenin Raghuvanshi's engangement, been seized by the UN - Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

Another of Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi's successful initiatives is his conceptual design of "people friendly villages". In areas, first and foremost inhabited by Dalis, primary schools are installed, offering alternative teaching methods and advocating girls' education. Ambition is the fortification of administrative and organisational abilities of marginalised groups, in order to enable them to call for their rights and arrogate specific concerns from the state.

Frequently addressing politically aggravating, often sociocritical topics, Dr. Raghuvanshi has been subject to harassment and death thread against himself, as well as his collegues. Moreover he was confronted with an incorrect accusal for alleged subversive statements.

The prize will be awarded on 10th December 2010, 7.30 p.m. at 'Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar' (Franz Liszt academy of Music). The award is endowed with 2.500,00 € and an artistic supplement by Bauhaus Universität Weimar (Bauhaus University).

Short vita of the awardee

Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi was born on 18th May 1970 in Varanasi. Honours graduate of Medical Science, Ayurveda and Surgery at Gurukul Kangari University, State University for Ayurveda and Medicine in 1994. Since 1992 married to Shruti Nagvanshi, 1 son, Kabeer Karunik, 12 years old.

The awardee is prepared and available for interviews. We appreciate your readiness to cover award ceremony and/or the awardee's work. Please contact:

Monday, November 22, 2010

IRAN - INDIA Ayatollah Khamenei calls for support for the Muslims of Kashmir - Asia News: "Lenin Raghuvanshi, a well-known human rights activist, said to AsiaNews that while it is right 'to defend human rights in the region, however,' it is not a religious matter connected with Islam. Khamenei ‘s Haj message is religious fundamentalist way to look the issue of Kashmir ,which is going to support the Hindu Fascist forces in India in indirect way. Actually, Iranian Government wants to hide their own failure of rule of law in their own country, so they are using the way of religious fundamentalism. In Iran there is no freedom, not even religious freedom. There is no right of expression. Additionally, as the UN Security Council approves new sanctions against Iran over its suspect nuclear program, they are desperately seeking diversionary tactics'.'In their country - continues Dr. Raghuvanshi - [the authorities] have targeted minority groups and anyone who wants to express himself. There is an absolute regime of torture. Now they are trying to attract public opinion by claiming Kashmir as a religious problem. On the basis of fundamentalism, they are seeking the support of the Islamic world'. 'In a country entirely devoid of the right of expression, human rights and religious freedom, Khamenei only wants to raise populist sentiments for a religious platform that manipulates politics.'"

It's my pleasure to share that Front Page publication is publishing the book "Justice, Liberty, Equality: Dalit's in Independent India" on the discourse based on grass root work of the PVCHR.

Frontpage is an independent publishing house pioneering a distinctive approach to excel in publishing critical debates; with perfect focus on anticipating market preference, frontpage is committed to utilise every opportunity to launch innovative publications with the help of acknowledged specialists.

2010, at about 8 o'clock in the morning a group of circa 50 people on board of motorcycles attacked in medieval style a Dalit (Rishi) hamlet in the village of Mojidpur in Kesobpur upazila in the Jessore district. The attackers set fire to the houses of Sopon Das, Gopal Das, Shosti Das, Roshomoe Das, Shorosoti Das and Orciona Das. At the same time, they started breaking up and beating up whatever and whoever came their way. Apparently, behind the attack there is a question of land. The musclemen have been hired by local Muslims who have claims on the land of the Rishi. In the ensuing fight a dozen Rishi people had to be admitted to the local hospital for treatment. After the attack, people of the Rishi hamlet supported by other local people organised a procession to protest the happening. A memorandum has been handed over to the upazila's administrative officer. To farther protest the attack a road blockade was enforced. The people were addressed by Advocate Abu Bokkar, local leader, and Bikash Das, convener of the Bangladesh Dalit Parishad. The latter organisation and Parittran, a Dalit Human Rights organisation, are planning further action for the following days. Court cases have been started and pressure is mounting for the arrest of the perpetrators.

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Saturday, November 13, 2010

As the Winter session of the Parliament began few days back, there is a visible anxiety among many individuals and human rights organizations including PVCHR, who are concerned about the final outcome of the Prevention of Torture Bill, 2010(PTB,2010)for two reasons; one, to what extent the select committee absorbs the suggestions and recommendations of the CSOs, and second, how far the legislative deficiencies highlighted by the honorable members of the Rajya Sabha(Upper House) are considered in the final draft. PVCHR continues to believe that irrespective of the final shape of PTB, 2010 is a victory for the survivors of torture. India’s highest policy making body has finally, acknowledged that torture exists in India and it should be addressed within a definite legal framework.

PVCHR, while taking up the causes of the victims and survivors will continue to fight against the attitude of the institutions, which are designed and mandated to stop and eliminate torture. It feels that these institutions have been constantly trying to hide torture by ignoring it with a small reference while talking about larger issues of violence. This intentional and deliberate act by the institutions is to hide their inefficiency and inability to grow to address the increasing challenges generated in the system. India is shamed across the globe on issues of torture the same way it is praised for its democratic tradition and economic growth.

The recent case of the Dannish gun runner who is accused of dropping arms in Purulia in 1995 is a case for serious introspection. The lower court in Denmark, did not allow the extradition of the accused to India on the ground that state prisons in India do not live up to International Human Rights standards, and there was nobody monitoring prison conditions in the country. We are sure; anyone who lives in India will not disagree on that except perhaps the government of India that is trying to bring Niels Holck since 2002, for a prison value addition. What India need to do is to initiate systemic reforms, induced or enforced to create a brand value for its institutions. Only reforms can create hope for the people inside and outside the country towards our institutions and reverse trust deficit.

As the nation’s freedom space is shrinking and becoming limited to towns and cities, the larger challenge of establishing rule of law across the country becomes larger. PVCHR, at this point of time, is just hoping that the substantial and concrete suggestions provided by various civil society organizations have been sincerely considered to make the present bill more effective to end torture in India.

Friday, November 05, 2010

I have experience that there is rarely any conviction in the case of bonded or forced labor. PVCHR has filed a case (Crime No. 114/2002 and case No. 1994/2007) in the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (VII), Varanasi against brick kiln owner Rajendra Tiwari under section 374 of Indian Penal Code and under Bonded Labor system (Abolition) Act, a resident of Belwa village under Phulpur police station in Varanasi district. It is ironic to know that Rajendra Tiwari, the person accused for bonded labor lodged a false case against me in the same court in 2007 under section 505 B Indian Penal Code having Crime No. 357/2007 and the court immediately framed charge against me in the same year. But the same Court has been failed to frame charge against the culprit Mr. Rajendra Tiwari in the case pending against him since 2002. It is also pathetic to learn that the no case against the said brick kiln owner was registered by the police under Scheduled Case and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 in the above mentioned bonded labour case but on the other hand a dalit activist associated with PVCHR has been implicated in the said case under 505B of IPC along with me.

In another false and fabricated case against our dalit rights activist, who is also a member of Governing Board of PVCHR was sent to the jail by the same court for not appearing in the court regularly. But the same court has been failed to take any strict initiative against Rajendra Tiwari for not appearing in the court for a long time. In such an environment of prejudiced mind of the court, it is practically impossible to convict the culprit/traffickers.I, myself, am a member of District Vigilance Committee of Varanasi district. But it is totally defunct institution. No activities are carried out by the Vigilance Committee. Most of the time even no case of mine is taken in to the notice by the district vigilance committee and I become forced to file the case with the National Human Rights Commission. It is noticed that only at the time of visit of a member of NHRC, District Vigilance Committee holds its meeting.

The Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights(PVCHR) extends its congratulation to Ms. Asma Jahangir and her colleagues for their victory of different offices at the Supreme Court Bar Association elections. Her victory as the president of the highest bar association of Pakistan will strengthen the lawyer's movement for an independent bar, the supremacy of the judiciary and the rule of law. Her success is a victory for the democratic forces, lovers of freedom of expression and the independence of the media.

From 1998 to 2004, Ms. Jahangir served as the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions. From 2004 until July 2010, she was the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. She resigned as chairperson of the human rights commission of Pakistan in July of this year in order to run for the SCBA presidency.

Monday, November 01, 2010

I just want to infrom you that Prof. Priyankar Upadhaya shows his inability to preside the governing board of Jan Mitra Nyas due to his commitment as director of the Malviya Centre for Peace and Research (MCPR), Banaras Hindu University. In place of him Dr. Mahendra Pratap Singh will be president and Mr. Nageshwar Patnaik as Vice President of the Governing Board according the decision by Governing Borad.

I just want to infrom you that Prof. Priyankar Upadhaya shows his inability to preside the governing board of Jan Mitra Nyas due to his commitment as director of the Malviya Centre for Peace and Research (MCPR), Banaras Hindu University. In place of him Dr. Mahendra Pratap Singh will be president and Mr. Nageshwar Patnaik as Vice President of the Governing Board according the decision by Governing Borad.